Ming Cult

The Ming Cult (simplified Chinese: 明教; traditional Chinese: 明教; pinyin: Míng Jiào) originated from Persia and spread into the Central Plains during the Tang Dynasty. It entered during the first Yan Zai year of Empress Wu of the Tang Dynasty when a Persian man presented the Ming Cult’s ‘san zong jing’ (three-purpose scripture) to the Court. Ever since then the Han started to practice this teaching. Originally Ming Cult was called ‘Mo Ni Jiao’ or Manichaeism. The cult worship God called "Muo Ni" but the worshipers call him ‘Honorable Brightness’. During this era the cult was known Muo Ni Cult or Cult of the Illuminating Light. Others call it the Devil Cult or Vegetarian Devil Honoring Cult for their strict rule of forbidding its members to eat meat.

In the third year of Tang’s master calendar, on the twenty ninth day of the sixth month, the first Ming Cult temple was built in LuoYang, Chang’an, with the name of ‘Da Yun Guang Ming Si’ (Great Cloud Brightness Temple). Later on, these kinds of temples were built in TaiYuan, JingZhou, YangZhou, HongZhou, YueZhou, and other strategic small cities. Toward the third Hui Chang year the Imperial Court issued an order to kill the Ming Cult disciples; at that time the Ming Cult influence was greatly diminished. Since then the Ming Cult became an underground religion, oppressed by subsequent dynasties. In order for the Ming Cult to survive, it had to resort to sly and secret behavior, that in the end the character ‘mo’ of the ‘Mo Ni Jiao’ was changed to ‘mo’ (Evil); hence the people started calling it the Evil Cult.

Hierarchy

The Ming Cult has 3 capital orders and 5 minor orders. There are 12 holy scepters in total, on the first 6 there is a martial arts engraved on it, on the other 6 the most important 8 rules of the Ming Cult are engraved on it.

Three capital orders:

Ming cultists are prohibited from becoming emperors, officials, kings, generals, etc. They rebel because they want to save the people not for their own gain. However, it is allowed to use those names when rebelling to attract support.

Ming cultists are not allowed to oppress the people and should do whatever is possible to ease the suffering of men.

Ming cultists are not to fight each other.

Five minor orders:

Ming cultists are men and women of their words.

Ming cultists are to treat each other like brothers and sisters.

Respect your elders, brothers, sisters, parents and friends.

Treat women with respect

Protect the cult with your life and obey the commands of your seniors in the cult.

Central Plains Ming Cult followers are differentiated by 4 Clans.

Heaven Clan - all male of Han Chinese

Earth Clan - all female of Han Chinese

Wind Clan - all monks, priest and priestess of various religious orders